200 Artists, Including Thom Yorke and Robert Smith, Sign Letter Urging UK to Block Rosebank Oil Field
Around 200 musicians publicly signed an open letter on Monday, August 17, 2026, calling on the UK government to reject the North Sea Rosebank oil field development. Signatories include Thom Yorke of Radiohead, members of Massive Attack, and Robert Smith of The Cure. The letter was written by Brian Eno and addressed to UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, coordinated by campaign group Uplift and published by Earth/Percent, the climate and music foundation Eno co-founded. The letter was first reported by NME.
Who signed, and what they're demanding
Beyond Yorke, Massive Attack and Smith, other signatories named in the letter include:
- Paris Paloma
- Bobby Gillespie (Primal Scream frontman)
- Ed O'Brien (Radiohead guitarist)
- Philip Selway (Radiohead drummer)
- Jacob Collier
- Anna Calvi
- Romy Croft (The xx)
- Olly Alexander (Years & Years)
- Imogen Heap
The letter directly demands that Burnham's government "stop Rosebank," and warns the Prime Minister that "this is what you will be remembered for." The signatories write that recent heatwaves have already harmed public health, children's education, businesses, and the wider economy — including the music industry — and state that the science is clear: the world's existing oil and gas reserves already exceed the safe limit for burning.
Countering the jobs and energy security argument
Industry groups argue Rosebank would create local jobs and boost UK energy security amid global supply disruptions. The open letter responds directly: most of the oil produced would be exported, so it would neither lower bills nor meaningfully affect UK energy security. North Sea employment has fallen by more than half over the past decade, a decline that continued even as new oil fields kept being approved.
The letter also notes that Burnham appeared onstage with Massive Attack in 2025 and signed the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty on behalf of Greater Manchester, calling it a "lifeline." Eno added that continuing to expand fossil fuel production isn't realistic — it's a refusal to face reality — and that Burnham faces only two choices: side with the fossil fuel industry and approve Rosebank, or side with the people who will bear the consequences.
Government response and climate context
A spokesperson for the UK's Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) told NME that the North Sea remains a vital national asset, supporting jobs, growth and energy security, and that oil and gas will continue to play a role in the energy system for decades to come, alongside the government's push for clean power. NME has sought further comment from Burnham's office.
The letter arrives as the UK faces a run of extreme heat, drought and wildfires. The Met Office says summer 2026 could be the hottest on record; globally, the 11 hottest years on record have all occurred in the past 11 years. Since May, hundreds of thousands of fans have faced serious disruption to major music festivals and shows due to climate-related conditions.